The holidays are over, the calendar has flipped, and suddenly race day feels very real. If your training over the past few weeks didn’t go exactly as planned—missed runs, travel, extra treats, or just a break from routine—you’re not alone. And more importantly: you’re not behind.
This is the perfect moment to reset—not panic. With the Austin Marathon on the horizon, the goal now is to refocus, regain consistency, and move forward feeling confident and healthy.
First Things First: Let Go of Guilt
Before adjusting mileage or chasing missed workouts, take a breath. One or two “off” weeks during the holidays won’t undo months of training. Fitness doesn’t disappear overnight, and trying to make up for lost time too quickly often leads to burnout or injury.
Instead of asking “What did I miss?” shift your mindset to “What’s my next best step?”
Revisit Your “Why”
January is a great time to reconnect with why you signed up in the first place. Is it your first marathon? A PR attempt? Running through downtown Austin with friends and family cheering you on?
Write it down. Keep it visible. That purpose is what will carry you through the remaining long runs—not perfection.
Reset Your Training Plan (Not Restart It)
You don’t need to scrap your plan—you just need to realign with it.
- Pick up where you are, not where the calendar says you “should” be
- Focus on current fitness, not ideal fitness
- Prioritize consistency over intensity
If a long run was missed, resist the urge to stack mileage in the following weeks. It’s better to slightly shorten a run or adjust pace than overload your body.
Ease Back Into Structure
The transition back to routine matters just as much as the workouts themselves.
- Aim for steady, manageable mileage this week
- Keep easy runs truly easy
- Use one quality session (tempo, marathon pace, or intervals) to sharpen focus—not exhaust yourself
Structure brings confidence, but only if it’s sustainable.
Dial in the Basics
When training feels off, it’s often not about mileage—it’s about fundamentals.
- Sleep: A consistent bedtime can do wonders
- Fuel: Return to regular meals and hydration
- Warm-ups & mobility: Especially important as mileage builds
These small habits add up fast and make training feel smoother almost immediately.
Trust the Process (and the Course)
The Austin Marathon course rewards patience. Training the same way—smart pacing, steady effort, and respect for recovery—will pay off on race day.
You don’t need to cram. You don’t need to panic. You just need to keep showing up.
One Run at a Time
January isn’t about proving anything—it’s about rebuilding rhythm and momentum. Focus on today’s run, then tomorrow’s. Stack small wins. Confidence comes from consistency, not perfection.
Race day is still ahead, and you’re right where you need to be.